Estimate Your Retirement Income Needs

Have you been saving for retirement without a clear idea of how much money you’ll need to live on? If so, estimating your retirement income should be an essential part of your saving strategy.

A 2010 study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that 41 percent of Americans in the lowest pre-retirement income level will run short of money after 10 years of retirement. After 20 years, 29 percent of people in the second-highest income level will run out, as will 13 percent in the highest income level.

Plan To Maintain Your Standard Of Living

Most retirees want to maintain their standard of living during retirement. To accomplish this, financial experts say you’ll need between 70 and 80 percent of your pre-retirement income. So, for example, a couple earning $60,000 per year would need between $42,000 ($60,000 x .70) and $48,000 ($60,000 x .80) each year during retirement.

Why less? Retirement typically triggers a number of changes in spending patterns. Your cost of living will change if you’ve paid off your mortgage and other loans, your children have finished college and moved away, or you no longer have working- and business-related expenses. Plus, you’ll no longer be contributing to retirement plans.

Of course, your specific situation will dictate the amount of money you'll need to live on. You may need more money than you anticipate. Health-care costs have increased, and you could possibly use up a greater portion of your income than you planned to ensure your insurance needs are met. Also, you’ll have more time to do the things you love, so you may spend significantly more on leisure activities, such as travel, entertainment, and hobbies.

Consider Your Lifespan

In addition, you need to take into consideration how long you might live. People are generally in better health and living longer, more active lives than ever before. According to the Social Security Administration, a man reaching age 65 today can expect to live to 83; a woman, 85. Those are only averages – one in 10 people will live past age 95.

With so many factors to consider, estimating retirement needs can be difficult. Our retirement calculator is a good place to start. To see if you’re on track, answer a few questions about your goals, how much you’re saving now, and your retirement income sources.